CloverPit hard mode: How much more challenging is Hell’s slot machine now?
After CloverPit’s release and its popularity skyrocketing, the developers have come out with a new update to the game alongside CloverPit’s Xbox release. Combined with CloverPit becoming available on Xbox Game Pass, new players will all get to experience the game’s “hard mode update” and upcoming DLC.
Subsequently, multiple patches and fixes were also made to CloverPit’s gameplay to improve some items, as well as a few quality-of-life changes. While some may find this update lacking in significant differences, let’s explore what is new and what has remained the same in CloverPit’s Hard Mode Update, and what it means for the general quality of the experience.
What is CloverPit’s hard mode?
You unlock hard mode only when reaching one of CloverPit’s endings while having a memory card equipped. After this, the memory card turns “Golden holographic”, and you can now play hard mode for that specific memory card. While previously in the game you would’ve had to have completed a run with the memory several times in order to turn it “Rainbow Holographic”, now once you complete a run on hard mode, the memory card is made rainbow.
The catch to this is that every deadline amount is doubled, making reaching those thresholds much more difficult. This new level of difficulty is a welcome addition in this game, as fans of it found the immense amounts of attempts to obtain the rainbow cards tiresome, so having a “shortcut” to them is appreciated. However, it is debatable whether or not this is actually faster, as hard mode will take a number of attempts to clear.
Can you beat CloverPit’s hard mode?
CloverPit’s hard mode can be finished, and is a much more streamlined progression for unlocking all the rainbow holographic cards. Before this update, getting cards to “rainbow holographic” was quite the grind, requiring you to beat the game with each card 3 separate times. The addition of hard mode and the added benefit of it immediately making cards rainbow means a lot of the game’s grinding has been slimmed down.
It is no easy feat, though, as CloverPit’s gambling-based gameplay already made it difficult to see the end of a run; having the higher deadline threshold means you’re far less likely to meet your quota. This difference from before this update means that although you have to do fewer runs to fully rainbow the cards, you may still end up doing several simply because you cannot reach the new deadlines.
CloverPit hard mode patch notes
Released in the hardmode update were several changes to the base game. These include:
- Addition of hard mode:
- Once you win with a memory card, you can enter hard mode, doubling the deadline amount and if completed making the memory card rainbow
- Changes to charms:
- Calendar is buffed but changed from uncommon to rare.
- Ring bell is now a multiplier and is 1 ticket cheaper in the shop (3 down to 2).
- Hourglass has been entirely reworked and is now rare.
- Cigarettes have been nerfed to be less frequently activated.
- Cloverpot has been nerfed as well as Naughty Dealer, Bricks, Wood, Sheep, Wheat, Stone, Harbour and Thief.
- Buffed fruit basket to 10 rounds instead of 7.
- Changes to traits:
- Charm traits about symbols grant +2 instead of +1.
- Tickets charm trait grants +3 instead of +2.
- Misc:
- Deadlines will grow exponentially after 15 deadlines.
- Added completion % counter.
- Added memory card clear and rainbow holographic counters.
- Changes to dialogue after bad ending to make players realise there are multiple endings (text is turned red).
If you wish to read the full patch notes, they are available on the game’s Steam page.
How does CloverPit’s hard mode compare to the base game?
In terms of comparing the new hard mode to the usual CloverPit game, differences are hard to notice. While the double deadline amount does add more tension to the game for experienced players, we feel that only having the threshold double is a slightly disappointing way to add difficulty to the game. While there is very little else to be done to make the game more difficult, simply doubling the amount required doesn’t feel like a different experience, more just that you’re on a run where you’re doing badly.
This is only furthered by the fact that if you really wanted to, you could already play with these higher thresholds. Using the “delusions of grandeur” card, the number required to reach was already doubled. This means that every hard mode run is just having this card equipped on top of any other card’s debuffs you were already receiving. Again, because of this game’s gameplay loop, inherently, there are not many other ways to increase the difficulty.
But reaching CloverPit’s ending in hard mode feels like a Sisyphean task, making us feel that perhaps there was a better way to make the post-game more difficult or engaging.
Does CloverPit hard mode have a new ending?
CloverPit, quite unfortunately, does not have a new ending, with hard mode only serving as a way to better unlock all of the game’s collectables. We feel that a new, or even simply expanded ending, would’ve been a nice reward to players for clearing this hard mode. The addition of hard mode only really serves as a way for players to better rainbow their cards, making the entire ordeal feel somewhat hollow.
Something that should be mentioned in any CloverPit analysis is the team behind the game, Panik Arcade.
The CloverPit developers undoubtedly do not have the backing to completely overhaul their game for a random update, being quite a small indie team. This manifests as the hard mode feeling somewhat lacking in terms of new ways of enjoying the game. As such, while completing hard mode can feel lacklustre, there was never going to be a complete reconstruction of the postgame, ala a new game plus.
Overall, this update does well to add some more superficial content and quality-of-life additions to the game, with changes to items and progression. It does, however, feel like it’s missing something, perhaps a more significant reward for clearing the gruellingly difficult hard mode. For now, though, fans of the game will have to wait for the imminent release of the DLC “Unholy Fusion” to see how this game and its story progress.
FAQs
How long is the CloverPit game?
Each playthrough is different, so there is no fixed length. Most players agree it takes around five to eight hours to get the first “win”. Full completion, including collectibles and all endings, can take at least four times longer.
Is CloverPit gambling?
While the game’s mechanics are inspired by gambling, no real money is involved. After purchasing the game, there are no additional costs—only the time you spend spinning the wheel.
Who is on the phone in CloverPit?
Multiple characters are implied to be on the other end of the phone. Most players believe red calls come from demonic entities, sacred calls from angelic entities, and normal calls from people the player character knew in life. Each call reveals fragments of the protagonist’s backstory, leaving much open to interpretation.
Is CloverPit scary?
CloverPit is not a traditional horror game—there are no monsters or jump scares. The tension mainly comes from the risk of losing a run and starting over. Still, the sound design and overall aesthetic create an eerie, unsettling atmosphere.
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